Exercise apparatus on pedestal for patients

ABSTRACT

A heavy base supports a vertically and rotatably adjustable pedestal having an integral upper right angle extension. This extension supports an arm at its free end which carries exercising implements comprising a bicycle-type pedaling device positionable above or below the arm and spring loaded hand grips movable pivotally on eccentric cams. The implement supporting arm extends at right angles from the pedestal extension and is rotatably adjustable around the axis of such extension. The implement supporting arm has length adjustment to suit various requirements for positioning the hand grips relative to a patient. The base has wheeled support to provide portability of the device and is capable of being anchored to the floor for set positioning.

[ Nov. 19, 1974 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-R.T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lee R. Schermerhorn [57] ABSTRACT Aheavy base supports a vertically and rotatably adjustable pedestalhaving an integral upper right angle extension. This extension supportsan arm at its free end which carries exercising implements comprising abicycle-type pedaling device positionable above or below the arm andspring loaded hand grips movable pivotally on eccentric cams. Theimplement supporting arm extends at right angles from the pedestalextension and is rotatably adjustable around the axis of such extension.The implement supporting arm has EXERCISE APPARATUS ON PEDESTAL FORPATIENTS Lloyd L. Craig, 1024 Murry Dr., The Dalles, Oreg. 97054 Feb.12, 1973 Appl. No.: 331,355

272/67, 108/140, 248/124, 272/58, 272/73, 272/83 R, 272/DIG. 4 Int. Cl..A63b 17/00, A63b 23/00, A63b 23/04 References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS United States Patent [191 Craig [76] Inventor:

[22 Filed:

[58] Field of Search 272/58, 67, 73, 83 R, DIG. 4; e

it various requirements for positioning the hand grips relative to apatient. The base has wheeled support to provide portability of thedevice and is capable of being anchored to the floor for Ulmer, .lr....3/1964 Noland et aI 4/1965 Posatsky 3/1972 Zinken et a1 9/1972 Schonl/l973 Walker FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France 128/25 R' 10 Clams7 Drawmg F'gures PATENTEL HBV I 91974 smraarz han... -I:IIIIIIIAEXERCISE APPARATUS ON PEDESTAL FOR PATIENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to new and useful improvements in exercisingdevices.

It is frequently desirable that persons in hospitals, rest homes,convalescent homes, or other places where he or she is confined have anexercise program. It is usually necessary in such cases to accomplishsuch exercise while lying or sitting in bed or while sitting in a chair.It is also necessary that a sufficient assortment of exercise beavailable so as to exercise the principal muscles of the body.

Devices heretofore employed have not satisfied the necessaryrequirements for providing a plurality of exercises for confinedpersons. One reason is that they do not have the portability andsimplicity required to make them feasible. Another shortcoming of suchdevices is that they do not employ the necessary adjustments which makethem capable of being properly positioned with relation to a patienteither in a bed or chair to accomplish desired exercise functions. Stillanother shortcoming of .prior devices is that they do not, at least inan economically feasible structure, provide exercise implements whichare capable of providing substantially the full range of excercisefunctions, desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION and sturdy in its located position adjacent toa patient in a bed, chair, or the like; which has adjustments arrangedto make the apparatus usable from either side of a bed or inother'locations, as well as to compact it for movement or storage; andwhich employs exercise implements capable of furnishing substantiallyall the exercise functions desired for bedridden or confined patients.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable typeexercise apparatus for bedridden or confined patients which issubstantially simplified in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects andadvantages will become apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferredform of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thepresent exercise apparatus and showing one manner of use in associationwith a bed in which a patient may be confined, the

' bed being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and foreshortened sectional view taken on the line44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged and foreshortened sectional view taken on the line66 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7-7 ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT means so that the baseafter being rolled to the desired position can be locked in placerelative to the floor. The base plate 10 is of heavy construction, beingformed of thick solid metal and the side frame members 12 are of alength and distance apart so that the apparatus will be sturdy and willnot tip.

The base 10 supports an upright pedestal 18 formed of two telescopingparts 18a and 18b, also seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The part 18a comprises aspindle secured to the top of base plate 10 by means of a bottom flange20 which may be bolted to the base plate. As seen in FIG. 2, spindle 18ais tubular and has a top wall 22. With reference also to FIG. 3, thelower end of pedestal part 18b has a vertical slot 28 and cars 30 onopposite sides of the slot which receive a clamp bolt 32 for releasablyclamping pedestal part 1812 on the spindle 18a. Clamp bolt 32 isthreadedly engaged in one of the ears 30 and has a crank handle 34integral therewith at the end opposite from the threaded end, thusproviding a fast and easy clamping and unclamping of the pedestal part18b on the spindle 18a to provide adjustment as will be describedhereinafter.

Pedestal part 18b has a top right angle extension 36 and is verticallyadjustable with this extension on the spindle 18a by means of an uprightscrew rod 38 threadedly engageable in a tapped bore 39 in the top wall22 of the spindle. Rod 38 passes freely through a bushing 40 secured inthe top wall of pedestal extension 36 and has upper and lower collars 42and 44, respectively, secured thereto on opposite sides of the bushingto provide upper and lower bearing engagement with the pedestal. Thelower end of bushing 40 extends below the bottom surface of the upperwall in which the bushing is mounted so that hearing support of thecollar 44 will be on the bushing and not on the wall. Upper collar 42has a crank 46 thereon which, upon loosening clamp screw 32, can berotated to raise and lower pedestal part 18b on the spindle 18a. Crank46 is preferably removable from the collar 42 for storage when not inuse.

The free end of right angle extension 36 terminates in an end wall 50,FIG. 4, and supports a tubular sleeve segment 52 having a transversewall 54 intermediate its ends. The outer end of the sleeve segment 52has a counterbore 56 which receives a flanged end 58 of a hollow end cap60 removably held in place against the bottom of the counterbore 56 bysuitable means, such as by a lock ring 62.

Slidably mounted through an aperture 63 in the end wall of the cap 60 isa push rod 64 having an adjustable pivot connection 66 at anintermediate portion on a lever 68 pivotally connected at one end to earmeans 70 on the cap 60. The free end of the push rod 64 has an enlarged,exteriorly splined locking head'72 thereon which is arranged forengagement in respectively splined bores 74 and 76 in end wall 50 ofpedestal portion 36 and wall 54 of sleeve segment 52. A spring 78 isdisposed on the rod 64 and bearsbetween the head 72 and the inner endsurface of the cap 60.

It is apparent that with the locking head 72 in engagement with thesplined bores 74 and 76, the sleeve segment 52 cannot turn relative tothe pedestal portion 36. To provide rotative adjustment, however, it ismerely necessary to manually pull the lever 68 out an amount sufficientto withdraw the head 72 from the splined bore 74. After suitablerotative adjustment of the sleeve segment 52, the lever 68 can bereleased and the spring 78 will move it inwardly to again providelocking engagement of the locking head 72 in the bore 74.

Pedestal portion 36 has a peripheral groove 80 adjacent to its outerend, and sleeve segment 52 has a setscrew 82, shown in FIG. 1, adaptedfor engagement with the groove. This setscrew is set at a selectivedepth such that the. inner end thereof is in the plane of the groove butnot in engagement with the bottom of the groove whereby suitableadjustable rotation of the sleeve segment can be made when desired andyet the sleeve segment 52 is secured against axial movement.

An implement holding arm 84 is secured integrally to the sleeve segment52 by a side bracket 85, FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, and extends at right anglesrelative to the axis of such sleeve segment. This arm is tubular andtelescopically receives an arm extension 86 at its free end. Arm 84 hasan elongated slot 88, FIG. 6, adjacent to the forward end thereof, andthis slot is adapted to receive a clampscrew 90 having threadedengagement in a suitable bore 92 in arm extension 86. Clamp screw 90passes freely through the slot but has a head portion, such as a winghead, of greater width than the slot so that it is arranged to clamp thetwo arm portions in a non-telescoping engagement. The clamp screw 90prevents relative axial rotation of the two arm portions.

Arm extension 86 terminates at its free end in a boxlike head 94 havingthreadedly installed end walls 96 provided with extensions 98. Theseextensions have internal bores 100 which slidably receive plungers 102.Plungers 102 are bifurcated and the arms thereof extend through spacedslots 104 in the ends of the extensions. Projecting portions of thebifurcated plungers 102 have pivot connections 106 with cam members 108having integral projecting handle portions 110.

The cam members 108 have eccentric pivot connection on the plungerswhereby they will move the plungers 102 axially when rotated.

The plungers 102 terminate at their inner ends in heads 112, andconnected between the two heads 112 are a plurality of tension springs114. These springs provide an inward biasing force to the plungers 102.

Bearing plates 116 are provided on the ends of extensions 98 to providea wear surface for the cams 108. The strength of the springs 1 14 willdetermine the force required to pivot the handles 110, and of coursesuch force is variable by the use of springs of selected strength.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, bicycle type pedals 120are provided for operation by the patients feet. These pedals arerotatably supported on rods 122 having length adjustment in hollow pedalarms 124. The length adjustment is provided by setscrews 126 in the arms124 engageable with detents 128 in the rods 122. Arms 124 are attachedto square or other non-round ends 130 of a shaft 132 joumaled in asupport housing 134. Shaft 132 has an enlarged drum portion 136 withinthe housing, and engageable with this drum is a brake shoe 138 also inthe housing and movable toward and away from the drum by an adjustingscrew 140 threadedly engaged radially in a wall of the housing. Bysuitable adjustment of the screw 140, the difficulty of rotation of thepedals can be varied.

Housing 134 is secured crosswise on an elongated rod 142, as by welding,and this rod has end eyes 144 adapted for support between split clampmembers 146 engageable on arm 84. To insure a non-rotative positioningof the clamp members 146 on the arm 84, setscrews 148, FIG. 7, arethreadedly mounted in the clamp members with the inner ends thereofbearing against the arm 84.

FIG. 6 shows the pedal housing 134 mounted on the top side of the arm 84but it is to be understood that by loosening set screws 148 and clamps146 if necessary, the rod 142 may be moved around to the underside ofthe arm so that the pedal housing 134 will hang downwardly. Also, the.rod 142 may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly on the arm 84 ifdesired.

FIG. 6 shows pedaling structure which may be used in addition to that sofar described or if desired in lieu thereof. Such structure uses a rod150 in combination with a rod 142a whichis of the same structure as rod142. In this arrangement, the rod 142a is connected at its forward endto the bottom of forward clamp 146 and at its rearward end, as by a bolt152, to one end of rod 150. The other end of rod 150 is secured to therear clamp 146. A housing 134a with pedals as already described issecured to the lower rod 142a and thus is presented to the patient in alower plane than the top pedals. It serves well as a pedaling exercisemeans for a patient sitting in a chair. The top pedaling unit is usefulfor leg exercise by a patient lying in bed. It may be desired to useonly one pedaling unit and to shift it between upper and lower positionsas needed, the lower position requiring the insertion of rod 150. Also,the pedaling unit may be installed with the rod 150 on the top if it isdesired that the legs of the patient extend up higher while pedaling.

With reference to FIG. 6, an exercise spring 154 having a hand loop 156at one end may be connected at its other end to an eye bolt 158 on thebottom side of head 94. By means of this structure, and by properplacement of the exercising apparatus, the patient can exercise hisarms, shoulders, or many other muscles. As shown in the drawings, eyebolts 158 may be located at several other places on the apparatus, suchas on the base 10, the extension 36 of the pedestal, the sleeve segment52, the head 94, and other places, and as many of the springs 154 may beprovided as desired.

In the operation of the present exercise apparatus it can be readilywheeled from one place to another and when in position the wheels 16 arelocked so that the unit will be anchored firmly to the floor. In orderto suit selected patients and other conditions, such as for example, bedheights, bed widths, location of patient, etc., height adjustment ismade between the spindle 18a and the pedestal 18b, rotative adjustmentis made between the sleeve segment 52 and the arm84, longitudinalpositioning of the pedaling housing 134 is made on the arm 84 and alsoat the selected rotative position thereon, and finally the arm extension86 is telescopically positioned on the arm 84.

As shown in FIG. 1, wherein the apparatus is sta tioned at one side of abed, the height and other adjustments are made so that the patient canoperate the pedals 120 with his feet and the handles 110 with his handsas he lies in bed. The arm 84 can be swung 180 degrees around thepedestal portion 36 if the device is to be stationed on the oppositeside of the bed. Also, the arm 84 can be positioned vertically forstorage and ease of movement.

The degree of difficulty of exercise when using the bicycle pedals 120is preset by the adjusting screw 140 and the difficulty of operating thehandles 110 is preset by the use of springs 114 of selected strength.The square ends 130 of shaft 132 on which the pedal arms 124 are mountedallows the pedals to be disposed 180 from each other as usual or ifdesired they may be positioned side by side for particular exerciserequirements. The exercises described comprise only an example of theexercise functions which may be accomplished by the present apparatus.All of the available excercise functions will notbe detailed herein. Itis to be understood also, that one or more of the exercise springs 154may be attached to selected eye bolts 158 as desired for operation bythe patient.

The present unit thus has features which will make available maximumexercise benefits to patients while hospitalized or otherwise confinedand in need of programed exercise. The simplicity of design of theapparatus allows for maximum benefit without undesirable complexity. Aphysical therapist, attending physician, or other qualified person witha background and awareness of the patients need for physical exercise,can outline a program of exercise utilizing the present apparatus whichcan then be administered to the patient by aides, orderlies, or otherhospital personnel.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Exercise apparatus for patients comprising a base, a pedestal on saidbase, a substantially horizontal lateral extension on the upper end ofsaid pedestal having a free end, an arm secured to said lateralextension adjacent to the free end of the latter whereby to be offsetlaterally from said pedestal, said arm extending at right angles to saidlateral extension, and exercising means on said arm for engagement by apatient in a lying or sitting position, said exercising means comprisinga head on said arm, laterally projecting handles pivotally connected tosaid head and having cam ends engaged eccentrically against said head,and spring means in said head urging said cam ends against said headwhereby an exercising force .is required to pivot the handles relativeto the head in the eccentric rotation of said cam ends.

2. The exercising apparatus of claim 1 wherein said exercising meansalso includes a bicycle-type pedaling device disposed intermediate theends of said arm.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm is secured at oneof its ends to said lateral extension and said head is secured to theother end of said arm, said arm being extendable in length forselectively positioning said head relative to a patient.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 including at least one tensionspring to accomplish pulling exercising functions, and connecting meansat various points on said base, lateral extension and said head forreleasable securement of one end of said spring.

5. Exercise apparatus for patients comprising a base, a pedestal on saidbase, a horizontal lateral extension on the upper end of said pedestal,an arm pivotally mounted at one end on said lateral extension forrotation in a vertical plane around the axis of said lateral extension,means to secure said arm in selected rotative positions on said lateralextension, a bicycle-type pedaling device, and means mounting saidpedaling device in operative positions selectively on top of said arm oron the underside of said arm.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, said pedaling device comprising arotative shaft having a pair of hollow radial pedal arms, and a pair ofpedals each mounted on a rod having telescopic length adjustment in oneof said pedal arms.

7. The exerciseapparatus of claim 5 including a pair of laterallyprojecting handles on the other end of said arm.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 including means pivotallyconnecting said handles with said arm for swinging movements of thehandles on the arm, and means resisting said swinging movements of saidhandles so as to require an exercising force to swing the handles.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 including a telescopic lengthadjustment in said am.

10. Exercise apparatus comprising a base to support the apparatus on afloor, a pedestal on said base, a horizontal lateral extension on theupper end of said pedestal, an arm pivotally mounted at one end on saidlateral extension for rotation in a vertical plane around the axis ofsaid lateral extension to place said arm in a selected horizontal orinclined position adaptable to a patient lying or sitting in a bed orsitting in a chair, means for securing said arm in said selectedposition, a bicycle-type pedaling device mounted on said armintermediate the ends of the arm, a pair of laterally projecting handlespivotally mounted on the other end of said arm for swinging movements ina plane perpendicular to the arm, and means resisting said swingingmovements of said handles so as to require an exercising force to swingthe handles.

1. Exercise apparatus for patients comprising a base, a pedestal on saidbase, a substantially horizontal lateral extension on the upper end ofsaid pedestal having a free end, an arm secured to said lateralextension adjacent to the free end of the latter whereby to be offsetlaterally from said pedestal, said arm extending at right angles to saidlateral extension, and exercising means on said arm for engagement by apatient in a lying or sitting position, said exercising means comprisinga head on said arm, laterally projecting handles pivotally connected tosaid head and having cam ends engaged eccentrically against said head,and spring means in said head urging said cam ends against said headwhereby an exercising force is required to pivot the handles relative tothe head in the eccentric rotation of said cam ends.
 2. The exercisingapparatus of claim 1 wherein said exercising means also includes abicycle-type pedaling device disposed intermediate the ends of said arm.3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm is secured at oneof its ends to said lateral extension and said head is secured to theother end of said arm, said arm being extendable in length forselectively positioning said head relative to a patient.
 4. The exerciseapparatus of claim 1 including at least one tension spring to accomplishpulling exercising functions, and connecting means at various points onsaid base, lateral extension and said head for releasable securement ofone end of said spring.
 5. Exercise apparatus for patients comprising abase, a pedestal on said base, a horizontal lateral extension on theupper end of said pedestal, an arm pivotally mounted at one end on saidlateral extension for rotation in a vertical plane around the axis ofsaid lateral extension, means to secure said arm in selected rotativepositions on said lateral extension, a bicycle-type pedaling device, andmeans mounting said pedaling device in operative positions selectivelyon top of said arm or on the underside of said arm.
 6. The exerciseapparatus of claim 5, said pedaling device comprising a rotative shafthaving a pair of hollow radial pedal arms, and a pair of pedals eachmounted on a rod having telescopic length adjustment in one of saidpedal arms.
 7. The exercise apparatus of claim 5 including a pair oflaterally projecting handles on the other end of said arm.
 8. Theexercise apparatus of claim 7 including means pivotally connecting saidhandles with said arm for swinging movements of the handles on the arm,and means resisting said swinging movements of said handles so as torequire an exercising force to swing the handles.
 9. The exerciseapparatus of claim 7 including a telescopic length adjustment in saidarm.
 10. Exercise apparatus comprising a base to support the apparatuson a floor, a pedestal on said base, a horizontal lateral extension onthe upper end of said pedestal, an arm pivotally mounted at one end onsaid lateral extension for rotation in a vertical plane around the axisof said lateral extension to place said arm in a selected horizontal orinclined position adaptable to a patient lying or sitting in a bed orsitting in a chair, means for securing said arm in said selectedposition, a bicycle-type pedaling device mounted on said armintermediate the ends of the arm, a pair of laterally projecting handlespivotally mounted on the other end of said arm for swinging movements ina plane perpendicular to the arm, and means resisting said swingingmovements of said handles so as to require an exercising force to swingthe handles.